The Holy Spirit as
Our Spiritual Mother
Two images from Scripture — the graceful dove and the mother who gives birth — and what they may reveal about the Holy Spirit.
The graceful dove
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
This familiar image comes from the baptism of Jesus, when the Spirit descended upon Him in this delicate form. All four Gospels record it (Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32).
The dove appears throughout the Bible:
- Genesis 8:8–12 — Noah’s dove returns with an olive leaf, a sign of hope, peace and God’s promise of renewal.
- Psalm 55:6 and Psalm 68:13 — the dove as a picture of longing for rest and of beauty amid distress.
- Song of Solomon 2:14, 5:2 and 6:9 — the beloved is called “my dove,” a picture of love, purity and grace.
- Isaiah 38:14 and Jeremiah 48:28 — mourning and the search for refuge.
- Hosea 7:11 and Hosea 11:11 — Ephraim’s naivety, and the hope of their trembling return.
- Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22 and John 1:32 — the Spirit descending like a dove at Jesus’ baptism.
The conceiving mother
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
The Spirit is the One by whom believers are born again. The Spirit was also present at the conception of Christ: “that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost” (Matthew 1:20).